When has a person ever walked off an airplane saying, “You know what? I feel GREAT” and actually meant it? Yeah… nobody that we know. Planes are notorious for sucking every ounce of moisture from our skin, leaving us looking more like reptiles than humans (but what else is new, tbh). Luckily, we stumbled upon five tips to help combat those in-flight beauty woes, so you can leave the plane feeling radiant instead of reptilian.
1. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
This is the Golden Rule of healthy flying. As we mentioned before, airplanes are seriously dehydrating from the cabin pressure and lack of humidity. Drinking tons of water will not only refresh your skin, but it’ll have you feeling less lethargic once you land. Wellness blogger Lee from America writes, “Water is an essential aspect of staying healthy: it helps you concentrate better, balances hunger cues, hydrates skin, and regulates digestion.” And while TSA doesn’t allow filled water bottles on planes, you can bring your empty bottle and flight attendants will fill it for you once you take off.
Oh, and ICYMI, here are the TSA rules for liquids: “You are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes in your carry-on bag and through the checkpoint. These are limited to travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item. Pack items that are in containers larger than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters in checked baggage.” There ya have it––straight from the government.
2. Do an in-flight face mask
Yes, we’re serious. How else do you think models and It Girls keep their skin looking radiant when their jet-setting across the globe every week? Face masks, natch. Quality hydrating face masks are made up of good-for-you ingredients like aloe, cucumber, olive oil, honey, and hyaluronic acid. Instead of battling with a clay mask that will inevitably get messy (and annoy other passengers trying to use the bathroom), store a few sheet masks in your carry-on for a super easy and clean way to relax your mind and rejuvenate your skin. And don’t be afraid to leave the mask on for longer than 10-15 minutes; your skin needs all the moisture it can get when you’re above the clouds.
3. Bring TSA-safe moisturizers, serums, and sprays
Make sure you bring along your usual TSA-friendly skincare necessities when you pack your carry-on. We’re talking micellar water (great for getting the airplane and airport grime off), moisturizers, serums (marula oil is a great base for hydration), hydrating sprays (try Mario Badescu’s Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber and Green Tea), and eye creams/masks. “Since flights typically dehydrate your skin, you can experience some major puffiness under your eyes because your skin tries to retain as much water as possible,” says Chelsea Jackson, a junior at Iowa State University. “Moisturizers and eye creams with a soothing aloe base typically work best for fighting off skin dehydration and puffiness.” Oh, and don’t forget your lip balm. Ultra important, especially if you’re planning on meeting some cuties during your travels.
4. Invest in TSA-friendly containers of hair oil
We’ve all experienced post-flight hair: static-y, flat and duller than our Tuesday/Thursday lectures. That’s never fun, especially when you get off the plane and have a full day of adventuring ahead of you. Invest in hair oils— like argan or coconut oil — to massage into your roots (not too much, for fear of looking greasy, unless that’s your MO) before you land. And if worst comes to worst, throw your hair into a topknot and call it a #look.
5. Keep makeup in your carry-on for touch-ups before you land
If you’re the kind of gal that wears makeup most of the time, then we definitely advise toting yours in your carry-on for easy access before you land. We recommend flying bare-faced, so you can utilize all of the tips above. But once you’re getting ready to land, add a bit of BB/CC cream, touch up your brows, swipe on some mascara, and finish it off with a touch of blush for an easy, natural on-the-go makeup look.
There you have it–– your guide to in-flight skincare that will have you leaving the plane looking like you were never at 35,000 feet.